Quantification of Initial Right Ventricular Dimensions by Computed Tomography in Infants with Congenital Heart Disease and a Hypoplastic Right Ventricle

Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum: Correlation of Preoperative Computed Tomography-Derived Parameters with Echocardiographic Tricuspid Valve Z-Score and Surgical Outcomes

The role of preoperative cardiac computed tomography (CT) in neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) remains unclear. This study was aimed to elaborate the role of preoperative CT-derived anatomical and functional findings in planning treatment strategies in neonates with PA-IVS. The presence of ventriculocoronary arterial connections was evaluated by CT. CT-derived ventricular volumetric parameters were compared and correlated with echocardiographic tricuspid valve (TV) z-score in 12 neonates with PA-IVS. Cardiac CT and echocardiographic findings were compared between definite surgical types (median follow-up, 4 years). Ventriculocoronary arterial connections were identified with CT in 58.3% of cases (7/12) and associated with higher incidence of Fontan procedure (42.9%, 3/7) and high mortality (28.6%, 2/7). The CT-derived and echocardiographic TV z-scores exhibited a high correlation (R = 0.924, p < 0.001). The CT-derived right ventricle (RV) volume and RV-left ventricle volume ratio also displayed high correlations (R = 0.875 and 0.867, respectively; p < 0.001) with echocardiographic TV z-score. More positive echocardiographic TV z-score, high CT-derived RV end-diastolic volume and RV-left ventricle volume ratio, and low CT-derived left ventricular end-diastolic volume were observed in biventricular surgery group (N = 2), compared to Fontan operation (N = 3) and 1.5 ventricular surgery (N = 3) groups, and mortality cases (N = 3). Preoperative CT-derived coronary artery anatomy and ventricular volumetric parameters may supplement treatment planning in neonates with PA-IVS especially when multifactorial decision including echocardiographic TV z-score is in a gray zone.W.

Pediatric three-dimensional quantitative cardiovascular computed tomography

High-resolution, isotropic, 3-dimensional (D) data from pediatric cardiovascular computed tomography (CT) offer great potential for the accurate quantitative evaluation of pediatric cardiovascular and pulmonary vascular diseases. Recent pilot studies using pediatric 3-D cardiovascular CT have shown promising results in assessing cardiac function in conditions such as tetralogy of Fallot, cardiac defects with a hypoplastic ventricle, Ebstein anomaly, and in quantifying myocardial mass. In addition, the quantitative assessment of pulmonary vascularity is useful for evaluating differential right-to-left pulmonary vascular volume ratio, the effectiveness of pulmonary angioplasty, and predicting pulmonary hypertension. These initial experiences could broaden the role of pediatric cardiovascular CT in clinical practice. Furthermore, the current barriers to its widespread use, pertinent solutions to these problems, and new applications are discussed. In this review, the 3-D quantitative evaluations of cardiac function and pulmonary vascularity using high-resolution pediatric cardiovascular CT data are illustrated.

Double Outlet Right Ventricle: In-Depth Anatomic Review Using Three-Dimensional Cardiac CT Data

Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a relatively common congenital heart disease in which both great arteries are connected completely or predominantly to the morphologic RV. Unlike other congenital heart diseases, DORV demonstrates various anatomic and hemodynamic subtypes, mimicking ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, and functional single ventricle. Because different surgical strategies are applied to different subtypes of DORV with ventricular septal defects, a detailed assessment of intracardiac anatomy should be performed preoperatively. Due to high spatial and contrast resolutions, cardiac CT can provide an accurate characterization of various intracardiac morphologic features of DORV. In this pictorial essay, major anatomic factors affecting surgical decision-making in DORV with ventricular septal defects were comprehensively reviewed using three-dimensional cardiac CT data. In addition, the surgical procedures available for these patients and major postoperative complications are described.

Pediatric Cardiothoracic CT Guideline Provided by the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging Congenital Heart Disease Study Group: Part 2. Contemporary Clinical Applications

The use of pediatric cardiothoracic CT for congenital heart disease (CHD) was traditionally limited to the morphologic evaluation of the extracardiac thoracic vessels, lungs, and airways. Currently, the applications of CT have increased, owing to technological advancements in hardware and software as well as several dose-reduction measures. In the previously published part 1 of the guideline by the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging Congenital Heart Disease Study Group, we reviewed the prerequisite technical knowledge for clinical applications in a user-friendly and vendor-specific manner. Herein, we present the second part of our guideline on contemporary clinical applications of pediatric cardiothoracic CT for CHD based on the consensus of experts from the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging CHD Study Group. This guideline describes up-to-date clinical applications effectively in a systematic fashion.